Drinking water guideline for ethylene thiourea, a metabolite of ethylene bisdithiocarbamate fungicides
The ethylene bisdithiocarbamate fungicides are the most heavily used pesticides in Maine. Ethylene thiourea (ETU) is a metabolite and environmental decomposition product of these compounds, is highly water soluble, and has been detected in groundwater in the state. ETU is a recognized animal carcinogen and teratogen. When administered in the diet, ETU produced a significant increase in thyroid carcinomas in rats in two studies. Two strains of mice fed ETU in the diet developed an increased incidence of hepatomas and a slight increase in lymphomas. Application of the linearized multistage model resulted in virtually safe doses (10(-5) lifetime cancer risk) of 0.25 to 1.6 micrograms/kg/day. The major teratologic effect has been the development of hydrocephalus and other CNS defects postnatally, resulting in a high mortality rate among the offspring. The NOEL for this effect was 5 mg/kg in a single oral dose. Retarded parietal ossification was observed at 5 mg/kg/day. Serious nononcogenic thyroid effects, such as goiter, decreased 131I uptake, and reduced thyroxine production, have been observed. Thyroid hyperplasia was produced at doses as low as 0.3 mg/kg/day ETU ingested in the diet. Based on protection against thyroid and/or liver tumors and alteration in thyroid function, the recommended Drinking Water Guideline for ETU is determined to be 3 ppb. This will also provide protection against developmental effects, since these occur at doses that are one to two orders of magnitude higher. 37 references.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Human Services, Augusta, ME (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6584701
- Journal Information:
- Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.; (United States), Journal Name: Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol.; (United States) Vol. 8:2; ISSN RTOPD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ANTITHYROID DRUGS
AZOLES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CARCINOGENESIS
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRINKING WATER
DRUGS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FUNGICIDES
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HORMONE ANTAGONISTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMIDAZOLES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
MICE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PESTICIDES
POLLUTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RECOMMENDATIONS
REVIEWS
RODENTS
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
TERATOGENESIS
TERATOGENS
THIOUREA
THIOUREAS
THYROID
TOXICITY
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WATER
WATER POLLUTION